Jirou Tomitake is a freelance photographer from Tokyo who makes regular visits to the fictional village of Hinamizawa, ostensibly to photograph wild birds. While he presents himself as an enthusiastic nature photographer, this is a cover; those who know him consider it a hobby rather than a profession. He has short light brown hair, red eyes, and wears glasses. His typical attire consists of a dark green baseball cap, a black or green sleeveless shirt, military-style green trousers, multiple belt bags, and black boots. He always carries a yellow camera and wears a set of dog tags around his neck. Tomitake maintains a calm and easygoing demeanor around the villagers, frequently joining local festivals and engaging amiably with friends including Keiichi Maebara, Rena Ryuuguu, and Mion Sonozaki. This personality is a facade concealing his true occupation. He displays some social awkwardness, especially around women; his romantic partner, Miyo Takano, once remarked that he claimed the last time he held a woman’s hand was at a folk dancing camp. "Jirou Tomitake" is an alias. His true identity is a First Lieutenant in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Previously an expert sniper, he was reassigned as a sniping instructor after an eye injury impaired his vision. He was recruited by a secret organization called "Tokyo" to serve as an auditor and liaison for clandestine research on Hinamizawa Syndrome at the Irie Clinic. His visits to Hinamizawa were to evaluate the research and report to his superiors. Across numerous story arcs, Tomitake meets a tragic end—he is typically found dead the night after the annual Watanagashi Festival, having clawed his own throat out. This death is orchestrated by Miyo Takano as part of her plan to stage the Great Hinamizawa Disaster. She injects him with the H173 drug to induce Level 5 terminal symptoms of Hinamizawa Syndrome, which causes victims to self-mutilate. Publicly, Tomitake and Takano appear to be lovers, and he often asks her on dates. He cares for her and supports her interests, though he is frequently unnerved by her obsession with the occult. Privately, theirs is a professional relationship, though Tomitake develops genuine affection for her. This dynamic leads to conflict when Takano tries to recruit him to betray Tokyo. His refusal to compromise his principles results in her ensuring his death in most timelines. In "Minagoroshi-hen," forewarned by Furude Rika of his impending death, Tomitake attempts to evade his fate. Despite being vaccinated, he learns Takano has already infected him with Hinamizawa Syndrome through tainted vaccinations. He is captured, injected with H173 to accelerate the syndrome, and succumbs to L5 symptoms. The conclusive arc, "Matsuribayashi-hen," reveals his full background in a timeline where he survives. He collaborates with Rika, Akasaka Mamoru, Kuraudo Ooishi, and Kyousuke Irie to expose Takano’s conspiracy. Using his military training and JSDF contacts—specifically a unit called the Bloodhounds—he gathers evidence against her. Though captured by Takano’s paramilitary force, the Mountain Dogs, he is rescued by a team led by Irie. He provides crucial evidence that dismantles Takano’s operation and leads to her arrest. After these events, he stands by Takano, and they eventually return to Hinamizawa together. Dr. Irie occasionally nicknames him "Risa" due to Tomitake’s accent when pronouncing Irie’s rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is a smoker in the original sound novels, though this trait is absent in anime and manga adaptations. His skills as a sniper, requiring steady hands and patience, translate effectively to photography.